On Tuesday 8 December, Josep Borrell, the High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, and Olivér Várhelyi, the Commissioner for Neighbourhood, urged Ukraine to continue with efforts to strengthen the Rule of law and fight corruption.
According to a European External Action Service press statement released on 9 December, they stressed during a telephone conversation with Ukrainian Prime Minister Denys Shmyhal that “robust legal reform remains an essential element of these efforts”.
The High Representative mentioned the need to address the issues raised by the rulings from the Ukrainian Constitutional Court, which, on 27 October, quashed anti-corruption measures for being too harsh (see EUROPE 12593/33), and stressed the importance of reinstating criminal liability for making false statements.
Borrell stated that, although the new law on asset declarations “is a step in the right direction” in response to the Constitutional Court ruling of 27 October, it “contains a number of weaknesses and does not have the required deterrent effect or the required impact to prevent corruption”. He indicated that the EU is willing to assist Ukraine in this process.
In addition, the next EU-Ukraine Association Council, which was initially scheduled for 8 December, will be held on 11 February 2021, according to the EEAS. (Original version in French by Camille-Cerise Gessant)